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Wednesday, 25 Sep 2019

Written Answers Nos. 111-125

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (111)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

111. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment in the dentistry department of Tallaght Hospital. [38923/19]

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Written answers

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

Questions (112, 113)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 550 of 11 June 2019, the basis on which it was concluded that the aspect of complaint in respect of the impact of certain conduct on the health and well-being of personnel did not characterise matters falling within the provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38933/19]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

113. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 674 of 11 June 2019 and 1266 and 1267 of 27 July 2019, the reason it took from September 2014 to 11 June 2019 to address with the board of the NMBI the matter of inappropriate spending of nurses and midwives moneys on legal expenses for a person (details supplied) named in a protected disclosure; the reason this aspect of the protected disclosure was not investigated to confirm the validity of the allegation at the early stages of reviewing the protected disclosure; the legal fees paid by the NMBI to the person named in the protected disclosure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38934/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.

My reply to PQ No 674 of 11 June 2019 dealt with the handling of a Protected Disclosure submitted to my Department in September 2014 which raised matters of concern in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). The impact of certain conduct on the health and well- being of staff within the NMBI was one of the issues raised. However the Protected Disclosure did not detail a complaint under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, in any event health and welfare issues were subject to the subsequent review under the Protected Disclosure Act 2014.

The Protected Disclosure was subject to external review and, on foot of that review two reports were commissioned. One was an organisational review carried out by Crowe Horwath the other by BDO reviewed Remuneration and Contract Management of Non -Permanent Employees. BDO and Crowe Horwath reported in November 2015. Both reports were accepted in full by the Board on the NMBI and they moved to fully implement the recommendations. This has resulted in a comprehensive change to the governance and management arrangements in NMBI.

The matter of the payment of legal fees by the NMBI was addressed in previous PQ replies. I am advised by my officials that this matter was not raised in the original Protected Disclosure. The NMBI advised that "the protected disclosure took place over a period of almost two years. Persons who are subject to protected disclosures are entitled to due process. NMBI did pay towards the legal costs of a person whose actions were the subject of a protected disclosure."

I am advised by the NMBI that a payment of €17,318.15 in respect of legal fees was made to the person named in the Protected Disclosure.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (114)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

114. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if funding will be made available for them. [38941/19]

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Written answers

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

General Practitioner Services Provision

Questions (115)

Carol Nolan

Question:

115. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if a stakeholder forum will be convened on the crisis affecting the provision of rural general practitioner services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38952/19]

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Written answers

I acknowledge that General Practice has been through a difficult period. The Agreement on GP Contractual Reform and Service Development concluded in April this year sets out a range of measures which we are implementing in cooperation with GPs everywhere, and also a very substantial increase of €210 million in the resources we allocate to GPs by 2023.

The Agreement includes measures aimed specifically at rural GPs, such as an increase of 10% in the rural GP allowance and an increase in the allowance paid to dispensing GPs. In addition, the Agreement sets out the requirement to undertake a strategic review of GP services within the Agreement’s lifetime.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Questions (116)

Peter Burke

Question:

116. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of an application under the fair deal scheme by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38966/19]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Primary Care Centres Staff

Questions (117)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

117. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 363 of 18 June 2019, when a position (details supplied) will be filled in the primary care centre in Roscommon town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38967/19]

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Written answers

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Nursing Home Subventions

Questions (118)

Robert Troy

Question:

118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an application for nursing home subvention by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [38968/19]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Questions (119)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

119. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if long-term care will be provided at a facility for a person (details supplied). [38971/19]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (120)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

120. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38977/19]

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Written answers

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

HSE Staff Recruitment

Questions (121)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 21 May 2019, the status of the recruitment of a key worker for teenagers with physical sensory disabilities in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38979/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

HSE Staff Recruitment

Questions (122)

Robert Troy

Question:

122. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 18 September 2019, the reason the HSE is employing agency clerical officers instead of hiring persons off the panel in view of the fact the panel is still active. [38995/19]

View answer

Written answers

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Cross-Border Health Services Provision

Questions (123)

Robert Troy

Question:

123. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if treatment required by a person (details supplied) is covered under the cross-border scheme. [39003/19]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.

Disability Support Services

Questions (124)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

124. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will address concerns raised in correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 11 regarding the need to introduce special procedures for the arrangement and management of visits by persons with disabilities to hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39004/19]

View answer

Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Health Services Funding

Questions (125)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the provision of long-term sustainable funding for community health projects, including a foundation (details supplied) in County Donegal, in order that they are not under threat of closure every few months if funding and donations cannot fill the gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39023/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

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